In London, Westminster Police are asking businesses to review their access control measures during September; and suggest making September ‘Know Your Colleague Month’.
Most businesses in Westminster now operate some form of personnel identification system, the police say. It is very simple however
to put your company ID away once you have entered the premises. Everyone must encourage everyone (particularly visitors) to display appropriate passes, police ask.
Not only will this assist in reducing crime by knowing who is in your building, but may help to foster closer working relationships within a workplace, police add. To do this it must be
supported by senior management’ encouraging staff to ‘Know Your Colleagues’, supporting and praising appropriate challenges by junior colleagues.
It is particularly important, police add, for staff to challenge strangers in your buildings – cleaners, couriers, workmen or other visitors should all have some form of identification and permission to be in a building. Regular challenges as suggested above will assist to deter unwanted visitors, the police say.
You could start with an email to all staff from the management supporting the initiative and issuing local instructions. Also consider putting up posters in lifts and on notice boards.
Challenging unidentified people in your building should become normal practice for all staff, police add.
